Great Yarmouth mum reunited with samaritan who saved her baby’s life

Oblivious to all the fuss baby TJ smiles contentedly in his mother’s arms while the woman who saved his life looks on lovingly.

This week Kristy Hoare, 21, was reunited with the caring Catfield woman who turned midwife to deliver her baby and then unravel the cord from his neck on the doorstep of the James Paget Hosital at Gorleston.

Modest mum of four Rachel Spencer read of her heroics and Ms Hoare’s desperate wish to thank her in the EDP and has come forward to say how happy she is that everything turned out well - despite her fears for the life of the tot who emerged blue and lifeless.

The 43-year-old who suffers with multiple sclerosis told how she was just leaving the pain clinic following a routine appointment to manage her condition when she saw Kristy and her partner Anthony Heatherington crossing the car park.

The woman she said was clearly struggling, slumping against a pillar as she got close to the main entrance which was heaving with people.

Without thinking Mrs Spencer rushed over, helping to make the woman comfortable and hastily removing clothing that was stopping the baby’s progress.

With his head already out and clearly blue Mrs Spencer feared the worst, triggering traumatic memories of her own daughter’s terrible stillbirth at 34 weeks, 25 years ago.

Once born she acted quickly and instinctively to unravel the cord from the baby’s neck, only leaving his side when the baby gave his first cry and medics gathered round to take over.

“He was blue and did not look well at all,” she said. “Once he was delivered everything happened so quickly. There were a lot of people stood round trying to stop everyone else from looking and it becoming a spectacle. Helping her was a natural thing to do. I did not even think about it. I just saw that poor girl in such pain and her boyfriend didn’t quite know what to do. A lot of people were just walking past. I am just happy that it has all gone well.

Mrs Spencer and Ms Hoare, who since the EDP article have been in contact via Facebook, met for the first time on Thursday since the drama unfolded on September 12.

Mrs Spencer said she was overwhelmed by Ms Hoare’s gratitude, adding: “Most of us don’t have an opportunity to test whether we would walk away or stop to help. I’m glad that I now know what I would do. Kristy keeps saying that she owes me everything and that I saved her baby’s life which is quite overwhelming. I am just glad they are all fine.

“I am so happy to see him today. He looks so well. I was so desperate to find out what happened to him and was looking through the birth announcements to find a boy born on that day.”

Ms Hoare said: “I am absolutely over the moon that we have found her. She is going to be a big part of our family from now on.”